Israel’s armed forces reported that an airstrike on Friday in the Jenin area of the northern West Bank killed a Palestinian identified as Hamas operative Qais Bitawi and two men described as his accomplices. The strike, which hit a car, marks a rare use of lethal Israeli air power inside the occupied territory.
Military justification
The Israeli military said Bitawi was involved in directing, funding and executing attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces, maintaining ties with Hamas members in Gaza and abroad. Officials framed the operation as a necessary step to disrupt a network that threatens Israeli lives.
Hamas response
Hamas condemned the strike but did not claim Bitawi as a member of the group. The organization called the attack an act of aggression and warned of further retaliation, though no immediate response was reported.
Impact on the ground
According to the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service, Israeli ground troops entered the site of the drone strike, briefly detained medics and prevented them from transporting the wounded to a hospital. The military did not comment on these allegations.
The incident comes amid a broader surge of violence in the West Bank, where both militant Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and Israeli military raids have increased. Last year, a major Israeli assault in the northern West Bank targeted what the military described as militant strongholds.
Broader context
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity over forced expulsions of Palestinians from homes in the West Bank, allegations Israel denies. In 2025, Israeli operations in the northern West Bank displaced thousands of Palestinians, with Israeli forces maintaining a long‑term presence in several cities.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, U.S. diplomatic efforts continue to pursue a deal that would disarm Hamas militants in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal. Gaza health officials reported at least five Palestinian deaths in three separate Israeli strikes on Friday, including a family of three killed near Deir Al‑Balah and two individuals killed in Gaza City.
International reaction
The strikes have drawn criticism from human‑rights groups and raised questions about the proportionality of Israel’s response in densely populated areas. The Israeli military has not provided further comment on the Gaza incidents.
As the conflict persists, both Israeli and Palestinian leaders face pressure to balance security concerns with the humanitarian impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
